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Graphene sheets, which are made of a single layer of carbon atoms, are both super-strong and highly flexible. Other teams have folded graphene into origami shapes using chemical reactions, and made tiny tools.

Cross and his colleagues accidentally discovered graphene’s hidden talent while trying to measure its friction by piercing it. Once their diamond tip punctured the sheet, the energy from ambient heat kept the ribbons tearing into a tapered strip – a process that took less than a minute.

By changing the initial width of the tear, the researchers could control the length of the ribbons, which tended to grow to five times their initial width (Nature, DOI: bmqd).

Graphene’s self-folding ability could help make better electronics, says Cross. By setting off ribbon formation in careful patterns, the sheets could be turned into sensors and even transistors, allowing for nanoscale electronics.

This article appeared in print under the headline “Graphene unfolds into nano-flowers”